The Russian threat on Monday to target with anti-aircraft missiles any USA aircraft flying west of the Euphrates River in Syria is part of the same intimidation strategy.
The developments added to already-soaring regional tensions and reflect the intensifying rivalry among the major players in Syria's civil war that could spiral out of control just as the fight against the Islamic State group in its stronghold of Raqqa is gaining ground.
"This is just the result of tactical decisions by a commander on the ground whose only focus is a specific theater in Syria".
The U.S. Central Command had issued a statement saying the downed Syrian military jet had been dropping bombs near U.S. -backed SDF forces, which are seeking to oust Islamic State from the city of Raqqa.
"The Iranian position will advance", Ford said.
Like Obama, Trump has focused on Islamic State, leaving for later the question of Assad's fate and the region's mangled alliances. RCC volunteers say they have told the coalition it will take 5.3 billion Syrian lira (about $10 million) a year to restore power and water supplies, roads and schools and that they have nothing but small private donations so far.
Both the Iranian strikes and the US's downing of the Syrian plane, followed by its tensions with Russian Federation, come as various players in the region jostle and scramble for position to take over territory in the post-ISIS era. "Our most capable allies are the (Kurdish) peshmerga, but Turkey, who is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally and host to an airbase that is central to our efforts, considers the Kurds enemies".
US warplanes buzzed the pro-Assad forces in an attempt to scare them away from the rebels, and contacted the Russian military to defuse the situation.
A White House spokesman did not respond to calls and an email seeking comment.
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Iranian media reported some of the mid-range missiles fired into Syria were of the Zolfaghar type, a precision-guided missile with a range of about 750 kilometres. "We're not close to that, but that's the strategy".
Saudi Arabia has far more sophisticated firepower than ISIS or the MEK to hit back at Iran from a long distance; and the USA and Israel each have even greater firepower than the Saudis to rain down on Iran if attacked by missiles.
Neither official would speculate on who is operating the drones that have tried to attack USA and coalition assets, but both said the Iranians have been training the Syrians how to use them. It stopped short of saying it would shoot them down.
The launch, which hit Syria's eastern city of Deir el-Zour on Sunday night, appeared to be Iran's first missile attack overseas in over 15 years and its first in the Syrian conflict, in which it has provided crucial support to embattled President Bashar Assad.
Iran cast the strike as a response to Islamic State attacks in Tehran earlier this month that killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 50. Iraqi lawmaker Abdul-Bari Zebari said his country agreed to the missile overflight after coordination with Iran, Russia and Syria.
Iran boasted of the strike throughout the weekend, with military officials declaring Iran a top missile power capable of fighting all military forces in the region, including the United States.
Going one step further, the argument would note: Even if Iran's nuclear program is now delayed by its deal with the West, in around another eight years, Iran could be launching ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads attached.
It has also sent thousands of Shiite recruits to fight in Syria and battle IS in neighbouring Iraq, according to officials.
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